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“All My Loving” by The Beatles is written in the key of D Major. It’s pop and rock style includes elements of British Invasion and Merseybeat. It shows a common chord progression modified with additional chords and modulation.

“Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles uses a D Major scale. The song primarily comprises chords built on the tonic or root note (D), which lends a consistent, grounded feel. This reflects the lyrics’ mood—contentment, renewed optimism, and a sense of homecoming with the arrival of the sun.

The chord progression featured in Radiohead’s “Motion Picture Soundtrack” Verse 2 is a four-chord loop that moves from G major to C major (acting as a suspension) and B minor (with an added 9th), creating an interesting mix of tonalities and suspensions. The progression establishes G major as the tonal center but continually moves away from it, creating a sense of ambiguity.

“When You Die” by MGMT features a fairly unconventional chord progression that mixes elements of rock, pop, and classic psychedelia. The progression creates tension and intrigue through the use of extended harmonies, chromaticism, and borrowed chords. The distinctiveness of this progression contributes to the song’s unique sound.

“Save Me” by Queen is in the key of G Major and it features a number of modulations to closely related keys. It resonates a distinct rock ballad style incorporating unique variations of common chord progressions from rock and pop genres. The progression’s utilization of inverted chords also brings depth and character to the melody.

2.

The Beatles – All My Loving – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘Em’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘A7’, ‘Em’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘D’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here is the chord progression for Verse 2 with its full chord names and their Roman numerals:

– E Minor (‘Em’) – vi
– A Dominant 7th (‘A7’) – V7
– D Major (‘D’) – I
– B Minor (‘Bm’) – vi
– G Major (‘G’) – IV
– E Minor (‘Em’) – vi
– C Major (‘C’) – II
– A Dominant 7th (‘A7’) – V7
– E Minor (‘Em’) – vi
– A Dominant 7th (‘A7’) – V7
– D Major (‘D’) – I
– B Minor (‘Bm’) – vi
– G Major (‘G’) – IV
– A Major (‘A’) – V
– D Major (‘D’) – I

Borrowed chord:

The C Major chord is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key, D minor.

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C Major ‘II’
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Similar Chord Progressions

A similar chord progression can be found in “Cherry Wine” by Hozier, and structured as follows:

– E Minor (‘Em’)
– A Dominant 7th (‘A7’)
– D Major (‘D’)
– B Minor (‘Bm’)
– G Major (‘G’)
– E Minor (‘Em’)
– C Major (‘C’)
– D Major (‘D’)

Another similar chord progression is in “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King, as follows:

– G Major (‘G’)
– E Minor (‘Em’)
– C Major (‘C’)
– D Major (‘D’)

Musical Analysis

“All My Loving” prominently features a walking bassline and 2-beat percussive pattern that emblematic of the Merseybeat sound popular in the early 1960s. In particular, the use of E minor and D Major tonalities within the verse sections provides a unique colouring to the piece, lending a melancholic and contemplative undertone to the otherwise upbeat pop structure.

Overall Analysis

“All My Loving” by The Beatles is a mid-tempo pop song written in the key of E minor for the verse and D Major for the bridge and outro, featuring a distinct, upbeat walking bassline. The grey, almost mournful verses, along with the brighter, major-toned bridges and chorus, create a juxtaposition of feelings within the piece. The bridge also highlights The Beatles’ use of secondary dominants and chromaticism. Concluding in the tonic key of D Major, the song has an interesting interplay between Em and D Major throughout, which could be perceived as a Em: i, VI, III, II and D: vi, V7, I, vi, IV, ii, I progression.

Style Analysis

In terms of songwriting style, the dominant 7th chords give the piece a bluesy feel, while the fast tempo and 4/4 time signature make the track firmly a pop tune. The Beatles’ frequent change of chords and use of minor and major tonalities within the same piece introduces a certain depth to the song, and is a common technique used by the band in many of their songs.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of All My Loving by The Beatles are:

[‘Em’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘C’, ‘A7’, ‘Em’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘D’]